it's August but my mind is in September

Today is Dax's last day in daycare where he has been going since he was 9 months old. He has made some wonderful little friends- especially Ty- and I am so sad that he won't be going there anymore. Unfortunately we have to make a change due to dollars and cents. Can't stand the idea of paying twice as much for daycare when it is the same daycare as last year... never mind about hat... I don't need to rant on here like this.

So today since it is my last day this summer without Dax I thought I'd start getting organized for going back to school. I still have 27 more days but my mind is stuck on what September may be like since I will be in the office 5 days a week, Dax in daycare at least 3 days a week and added cost of daycare. I am SO blessed that Dustin doesn't work on Mondays and will keep Dax at home with him so he doesn't have to be in daycare everyday. They will have a wonderful time together!

Even though we have had Dax in daycare for all of last school year we are looking at added costs during the month of September due to everyday daycare and a very slight increase in the cost as we switch daycares. Because of this, I am planning out our meals for September to all be either freezer meals or crockpot meals during the week. I'm hoping to offset some of the grocery cost for September by making freezer meals now and then making super simple crockpot meals the other days. I have had a lot of fun planning this out and am so ready to get started! Just have to do a little grocery shopping and then I'll be ready to rock!

I'm excited to try some new tricks that I have learned today while cruising the net:

1. use grated fresh carrot with ground beef to bulk up the beef

2. marinate meat such as steaks and chicken in freezer bags so that as they thaw they marinate as well!

3. Disposable pans! I actually have been doing this already but it makes clean up so much easier when all you want to do is eat and then play with the kiddo.... or relax. ;-)

4. There are so many AWESOME food blogs out there!! I wish I was dedicated enough to write one about trying to become a more organized cook. :-p

HMM I thought I had learned more today but I guess a few tips isn't too bad for not even starting yet. :-) I'll let ya know how it goes.... maybe even document it, ha!

July, July, July

I FINISHED and GOT MY PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION APPROVED!!!!! YAHOO!!! This is a huge, gigantic weight off my shoulders. The day after I finally turned my portfolio in truly felt like the first day of summer vacation and I was already about 3 weeks in! My buddy in this, Carley, had hers turned in about a week before me which is probably what got me to actually get it done in June and not July Ha! Hopefully the two of us will do some celebrating together soon. :-)

Summer break has been slowly creaping by which I am loving. The only bad part is I'm almost halfway through which means it will suddenly start flying by- it always does. While I enjoy the people I work with I would LOVE to be a 100% stay at home mom. I love being Dax's mom and taking care of him all day long. It just feels like this is what I am REALLY supposed to be doing. The beauty of my job is that I do get to be a stay at home mom for part of the year. I am learning to enjoy every second of it. I'm also dreading going back to the office because of some changes at the state level that will impact our program. Not sure what they are exactly yet but means once again we will have some changes in store. Will make fall interesting figuring them out and getting the year rolling.

Dax is growing like a weed, of course. :-) Everyday he's doing something new, saying something new and getting into new forms of trouble, ha! He loves playing in the pool and has even tripped a couple of times going under the water and doesn't panic. He is really starting to be hilarious with everday antics. He loves to tell the cows and dogs to 'go on' but it sounds more like g-on. Oh and he also throughs in an arm motion with it that really completes it. He is also starting to really jabber and regularly will start telling a 'story' that I only recognize about half the things he's telling me. He loves to talk about Daddy, Bill and sissy. Often telling me something about them while laughing, saying 'no no' and their names. It's very funny! He LOVES being outside and throws a fit about going inside unless Daddy or Uncle Bill are around- he'll follow them anywhere. :-)

I have been semi-sucessful on the garden front all ready. :-) Corn, onions and pumpkins are all coming up in the garden, even if nothing actually comes out of the garden I'm just excited that something came up!! Next year I'm going to expand my selection with other veggies.

I think that's about it for now. I am horrible about writing posts and pretty sure they're probably boring to just about everyone besides me, ha! Hope someone is still reading this. :-p

Dax sharing a popsicle with Daddy

SUMMER BREAK!!!!!

A week ago today I was working my very last school day of the year. I remember being so excited for June 1st way back in August but I really didn't think it would come so fast. I truly wasn't quite ready for it. So far I am loving the break! Dustin, Dax and I have been outside almost every day working in the yard, the garden or just playing. It's great! Dax adores being outside and throws a fit almost everytime we have to go inside.

The week before break began Dax and I got to go on the end of year field trip to Astoria, OR. It was wonderful and Dax was an absolute ANGEL! He cried very, very little on our super long road trip and got to meet several new friends. The first night we drove to Portland to spend the night with my cousin Kristen and her family. Dax is blessed to have two cousins that are close to his age- especially Miss Leah who is about 5 months older than him. It was very fun to watch them play, catch up with Kristen and visit the zoo!


Leah and Dax after the train ride at the zoo.



On Monday we drove the rest of the way to Astoria and then felt like we didn't slow down until the drive home Thursday. :-) Tuesday was spent at Fort Clatsop and Fort Stevens and Wednesday was spent a various museums AND THE BEACH!!! It downpoured for most of the day on Wednesday but the weather broke about the time we were done with the museums so we high tailed it out of Astoria to Seaside and the beach! It didn't rain on us at all while we were there but the wind was definitely blowing like crazy! It really was fun though. :-) Thursday we headed back to Portland and the zoo for a few hours and then the long trip back home.



At the top of the Astoria Column. If I remember right it was 165 steps to the top!

My backseat drivers. Dax and his buddies Nick and Andrea.

He really loved spending time with them!

Dax watching a penguin at the zoo.

So now that we are settling into summer I realize all the things that need to get done this summer or things I need to just keep working on. I'm going to list them in the hopes I will stay more accountable to myself ha!


1. Start working out and finally lose all my baby weight!!! Water aerobics starts in a week! Yahoo!
2. Finish my Pro Cert---- this HAS to get done in the next 2 weeks.
3. grow a garden--- it's already planted so now I have to water and weed
4. teach Axle to sit and come when he's called.... he should already know how to do this but... well.. he doesn't...
5. Keep my plants alive
6. Clean the carpets in the house
7. De-clutter our house. I have too much stuff and it needs to either find a place or go someplace else
8. Work on making meals ahead of time. I've already started this a little- so far I've made and frozen a pasta dish and breakfast burritos. I think this will really help when I head back to school in the fall.
9. Keep the 4 baby turkeys alive. If we can keep these four babies alive we're bound to keep some chickens alive and get some farm eggs to boot!
10. OOO and not get attached to the baby turkeys since we are planning to eat them for Thanksgiving--- although Dustin already mentioned maybe keeping one as a pet.
11.Plan playdates with my friends! We all talk about it but all too often we get too busy to actually commit
Okay I think that is it for now. Ha!

Kisses and Loves

Dax has always been such a love. Since he was tiny he has liked nothing more than a good snuggle. When he's overwhelmed he will run to the closest arms he can find. Lately though he was become a really lover. If he accidently hits someone he immediate wants to give a hug or a kiss to make up for it. Even when he's really mad at you.

All of our animals get loves from Dax. Axle and the kitties sit pretty still for him to love on them (surprising for a puppy, right) and Dakota would love to sit still for him but she just can't seem to do it. When he gives loves to the animals or little babies he will lay his head on them and say Muah. It's a combo of a hug and a kiss all at once.

We got some fun pictures of him and one of the little girls from daycare, Ally, kissing. I've also heard that he's walked right up to Nyla, Thea and Ruby and given them smooches. Oh we are in so much trouble!

I think it helps a lot that all the kiddos at daycare are very affectionate to each other. They all really love eachother and get so excited to see their friends. Dax literally ran into daycare last week and was met by a super excited Ty who always runs up to him and says DA!!! It's very sweet.

Oh how I am loving this age but still missing my tiny little boy.

April

Oh my goodness! It's almost May and we had snow yesterday! What on Earth? I have 6 strawberry plants on my counter than I am itching to plant because they already have buds on them but can't because it's still so darn cold! I've started actually taking them outside when it's warm and bringing them back in as it cools off. How silly is that? I feel like I have another child to worry about. Ha ha!

Speaking of my child. He's 18 months old!! He has really changed into a little boy the last month and I am not okay with it. I miss my little, little guy but I really am so proud of this handsome toddler we have. Dax is so sweet although he has begun to throw fits which are not so sweet. I hate them actually (what parent doesn't, right). Mostly I ignore him and walk away while he's throwing his fit and he usually stops almost right away. Even with the fits he really is just a love. He is so gentle with the babies at daycare, his puppy, the kitty, and anything else that is smaller than him. Oh and most recently he loves to go crawl into bed with Daddy in the morning before we leave or just before Daddy gets up. It is so sweet. He doesn't stay cuddled in very long but will sit and chat with Daddy or climb all over him until Daddy is ready to get up. I just love watching them together. We still cuddle with a bottle before he goes to sleep and the last few nights he will wrap one arm around my neck and pull me down to him and just hold on as he drifts off to sleep. I just love that! Even though I miss our tiny baby I sure do love our toddler.

We've begun to do more around the yard. Just today I was filling in the whole dug by Dakota at the end of last summer and adding grass seed to them in the hopes they aren't bare spots for long. Made a trip to Ace to day and picked up some top soil and planting soil to get the flower beds full of dirt since we removed all of the Junipers. Still not sure what will go in the beds but so so nice to not be looking at the ugly Junipers anymore. Dax loves being outside which makes doing work in the yard so much easier. He will usually just wander around or actually helps! The other day I was raking and Dax would pick a single blade of grass out of the yard and put it in the wheel barow. Totally made me laugh but so sweet that he was 'helping.'

We've also started to take advantage of having a great deck! Dax has some toys out there and just loves to go out and watch the cows. dogs, kitties, whatever is out and about or just tear around on his own. I love that with the slider where it is I can work in the kitchen and watch Dax the entire time. I am so looking forward to the summer!! :-)

Okay well I'm sure there is more I could write about but it stopped raining so I better take advantage of my moment :-)

Sign Language Funny...

So Dax knows how to sign eat, please and more. He does them ALL the time and pretty sure not just when he is hungry. It is very sweet and ya just can't resist him when he does it....

Okay so last night we had kind of a rough night because Dax's cold came back in full force in the middle of the night. At abou 3 this morning as I am laying him in bed saying a little prayer that he stays asleep, and as his head hits the mattress he signs, while he is asleep 'eat, please.' I may have giggled just a little bit. Especially since he didn't wake up at all.

Well actually I should say he didn't wake up for about 15 minutes. Just enough time for me to get back snuggled into bed...

yeah... it was a rough night...

March.. MaRcH, MARCH

WOW! It has been just a little bit of time since I posted last. Sorry! I'd love to say it's been busy but I'm really not sure that it has been.... I guess life with a toddler is busy though isn't it...

Life on the farm is wonderful although living on a farm comes with all of its interesting moments from not being able to get out of the driveway due to an excessive amount of snow, slush or ice to now MUD, lovely (insert sarcasm here) little creatures that are NOT welcome in our home but show up anyway, umm endless yard chores which I began to tackle the other day, planning what to do with the flower beds this year since we're pulling out the old, overgrown junipers. Oh how I hate those things! Ha! We're also plannin on scaling back the garden so we can use it this year and not let it just sit all summer. Part of it will be a dog run because we are SO tired of dog poo in the lawn and part of it will be corn and pumpkins... or that is the plan. I've never gardened before so this should be interesting. :-)

Dax is growing like a weed. He's almost 17 months old and slowly aquiring new words. :-) He says kitty (and it's sound), Axle (pronounced Daxle), cow, moo, woof, Mama, Dada, Sissy, Gigi, Papa, Bill, thank you, uh oh, down, hmm and others that I am probably forgetting. We try everyday to get him to say new words. He loves his puppies and kitties and playing outside. He's also been sick almost every day this month. What the heck? He's had pink eye, the stomach flu and this cold that just won't go away. Ugh! Love him to pieces but really hope he is healthy soon so we can all start getting some more sleep! :-)

Dustin and I were able to actually have a night, a full night, without Dax. It was my birthday present to myself back in February. Ha! Dax stayed with Gigi and Papa while Mama and Dada had a bonfire with some friends. It was great. I still work up at 7am wide away since Dax is always up by that time but was nice to not have to get right out of bed. We all did fantastically and Dustin only laughed a little when I said "I miss Dax" just a few hours after dropping him off. :-) It was a fun night though!

I'm sure there is more to write about or report but I can't think of it right now. I'm thinking this summer I may try to be a daily poster but we'll see... I wonder if anyone would read a daily blog written by me... hmmm... hahahhahahaha